Dog boosts students’ mental health at Dollard-des-Ormeaux elementary school

It’s no myth that playful pups can easily put smiles on people’s faces.

That’s why one elementary school in Montreal’s West Island is bringing a four-legged friend to class.

Springdale Elementary School in Dollard-des-Ormeaux has been welcoming Scully, an eight-year-old miniature Labrador, as a way to support student and staff members with their mental health.

“I’d like to say that dogs are one of Earth’s most important creatures,” said student Atticus Kuhnreich.

“The days she’s here, I love going into the office or when Scully comes to the classes — and petting her — because she has the softest fur and is the calmest dog I have ever seen.”

Studies have shown dogs can help ease loneliness and feelings of depression, among other mental-health benefits.

“Having pets in school has become increasingly popular in classroom settings, especially as their use has been shown to have a positive effect in terms of lowering student stress and anxiety,” said Brian Swirsky, the school’s principal.

“Pets are amazing in school settings. It doesn’t have to be a dog, it could be a rabbit, it could be a hamster, but students like pets.”

Scully has been a comfort dog for the last two-and-a-half years at Horizon High School, but recently Swirsky, her owner, decided to bring her to Springdale to comfort younger children.

“Since Scully has joined us here at Springdale, the students love her,” the principal said. “Everything from ‘she’s so beautiful and cute and soft,’ to when a student is not able to verbalize how they’re feeling and they’re unhappy, to interact with Scully, to pet her, to get to them a place where they’re able to express why they’re upset in that moment has been amazing.”

Depending on the student’s needs, Scully can help students with her calm demeanor or simply by being by their side.

“Sometimes students will come that are neurodivergent and they’re having a difficult time and they’re not able to articulate what is causing them internal stress or frustration, so they will sit down and try and speak, but as they’re starting to talk, right away they start to pet Scully,” Swirsky explained. “And I just let everything take its natural course, and Scully knows, I’m just gonna sit here and take the back rub or tummy rub, and the student then becomes more regulated and they are better able to articulate what has them frustrated.”

A typical day for Scully starts with her greeting students at the bus and touring the classrooms with principal Swirsky. Students can visit Scully in Swirsky’s office if needed, and she even attends meetings with staff members and parents, where they all have the opportunity to interact with her.

“She’s a really nice dog, honestly, and I like the way that whenever you’re upset, she’ll literally come up next to you and she’ll try and get you to pet her and she gives off that vibe of calm, loving,” said student Ariana Vanderwee.